Heb 8:5 | TNotes | STEP | 8:5 a copy, a shadow: The earthly place of worship was an imitation that pointed to the real one in heaven . That is why God warned Moses to make it according to the pattern (see Exod 25:40 ; 26:30 ; cp. Acts 7:44 ). Judaism and early Christianity both spoke of a heavenly Temple within a heavenly Jerusalem, which would come down to earth at the end of the age (see Rev 21:2 ). Hebrews suggests that this heavenly place of worship was shown to Moses so he would know how to build the earthly Tabernacle. It is the heavenly Temple, however, in which Jesus ministers as High Priest.

bExod 25:40►

dActs 7:44►

eRev 21:2►

‏ Hebrews 8:5

8:5 ^a a copy, a shadow: The earthly place of worship was an imitation that pointed to the real one in heaven. That is why God warned Moses to make it according to the pattern (see Exod 25:40 ^b; 26:30 ^c; cp. Acts 7:44 ^d). Judaism and early Christianity both spoke of a heavenly Temple within a heavenly Jerusalem, which would come down to earth at the end of the age (see Rev 21:2 ^e). Hebrews suggests that this heavenly place of worship was shown to Moses so he would know how to build the earthly Tabernacle. It is the heavenly Temple, however, in which Jesus ministers as High Priest.